1. Wide receiver Allen Robinson is clearly the Nittany Lions' best player. The 6-3, 210-pound junior has added size and strength since last year and he was dominant after sitting out the first half for undisclosed reasons. Robinson finished with 7 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown and he needed all of 34 seconds and two plays to put his stamp on the contest, making catches of 25 and 51 yards — the latter a TD — to strike fear in the Syracuse defense. His ability to make yards after the catch is second to none in the Big Ten.

2. For a big man, Garry Gilliam can still move. The Milton Hershey grad, and a one-time tight end, is now an offensive tackle. And the 6-6, 303-pounder made one of the game's biggest plays, maybe the biggest, when he ran down Syracuse defensive back Brandon Reddish after a 46-yard fumble return. It looked like Reddish was going to score but Gilliam tackled him at the PSU 27 late in the third quarter with the Lions up 13-10. The Orange got zero points out of the possession and the winning margin was six, last I checked.

3. Deion Barnes is talented but remains a work in progress. The Nittany Lions' young rush end was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2012 after he registered 10 tackles for loss and forced three fumbles. He is a dynamic, game-changing player. But against Syracuse, Barnes was not credited with a tackle or an assist.

4. The Lions' deepest position absorbed some major hits. PSU lost senior tight end Matt Lehman early in the game to a left knee injury and it looked serious. An update will be coming at some point. And Kyle Carter, a first-team All-Big Ten tight end, played most of the game with a wrap on his left arm after an injury on the Lions' successful fake field goal in the first half. Carter did not catch a pass. The Lions began the year with four dangerous tight ends. How many will be able to go against Eastern Michigan Saturday at Beaver Stadium?

5. The strength of the PSU defense is its defensive backs. Young corners Trevor Williams and Jordan Lucas were aggressive and made plays on the ball. Williams sealed the win with a late interception. Backup safety/linebacker Stephen Obeng-Agyapong was everywhere. Safety Ryan Keiser had his moments. And I haven't even mentioned the secondary's best player, safety/corner Adrian Amos. Great overall effort from this group.